BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will send his side out with a simple message ahead of tonight's Premiership showdown with Manchester United -- Just go for it!

Rovers go in search of their first points of the new season against Alex Ferguson's all-conquering champions.

But Souness insists his Premiership newcomers have nothing to fear as they prepare to renew acquaintances with their former title rivals.

"I've got no fears for our younger players," said Souness.

"I think last year they showed on the big occasion that they got excited by it and it turned them on which made them better players.

"And if you've got that then you've always got a chance.

"I know the guys are really looking forward to playing against them because if you've got anything about you as a player then these are the games you want to play in.

"So I won't have to gee them up and, if we can play to our potential, then you never know what could happen."

Souness got the opportunity to see first hand the strengths and weaknesses of United's squad when he watched them scrape past Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday.

But, despite that jittery performance, he does not subscribe to the view that the Reds showed chinks in their armour.

"You have to give great credit to Fulham because I thought they did well on Sunday," said Souness.

"But no two games are the same and the game tonight will be a very different game.

"There's no secret with Manchester United, they're going to come after you because their philosophy is 'if you're going to score two against us, then we'll score three or four against you.'

"That's part of their history and that's how the club has been throughout the years which is why it's always very exciting to watch.

"But we just hope if we can play to our potential then maybe one or two of them might have an off-night because no team's unbeatable."

Souness faces a selection dilemma as he ponders his starting eleven.

England Under 21 midfielder David Dunn is already ruled out for six weeks after damaging medial knee ligaments following a challenge from Fabrizio Ravanelli in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Derby.

And, as we revealed in later editions last night, his replacement Tugay has also be counted out after aggravating a thigh injury in training on Monday.

So Souness would appear to face a straight choice between Craig Hignett and Alan Mahon in regard to who partners Garry Flitcroft in midfield.

Rovers will choose from: Friedel, Bjornebye, Curtis, Short, Berg, Taylor, Gillespie, Duff, Mahon, Flitcroft, Hignett, Bent, Grabbi, Jansen, Blake, Hughes, Filan.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane returns for United tonight after missing Sunday's curtain-raiser against Fulham through suspension.

And United boss Ferguson may even toy with the idea of playing the Republic of Ireland international at the back alongside Jaap Stam in an attempt to tighten up his leaky defence.

United from: Barthez, G Neville, P Neville, Irwin, Silvestre, Stam, Johnson, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Chadwick, Van Nistelrooy, Veron, Yorke, Solskjaer, Carroll.